Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. For more information about your privacy and protection, please review our full Privacy Policy.

Itinerary advice needed-Ring of Kerry vs. Galway area

My husband and I will be have 8 days on the ground in Ireland in May, flying into and out of Dublin. We are history buffs (particularly ecclesiastical history) but want to include some varied experiences such as outdoor activities. We will hire a car and would like to see Dublin and at least one other area. We have narrowed our itinerary down to two options about which we would like feedback.

Option 1 is built around a visit to Skelling Michael, which we initially had our hearts set on.

-Day 1 (Saturday) Brú na Bóinne and Monasterboice
-Days 2-4 (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday) Dublin
-Day 5 (Wednesday), Travel day from Dublin to the Ring of Kerry, stopping along the way at the Rock of Cashel.
-Day 6 (Thursday) Skelling Michael
-Day 7 (Friday) Ring of Kerry
-Day 8 (Saturday) Drive back to Dublin. Thoughts on a couple hour stop along the way appreciated.

I perceive Option 1 to be more touristy and involve more road time, but I have read several reviews of Skelling Michael that essentially say it is worth visiting at all cost. I would take this advice and not look back except for the multiple warnings I have also run across regarding how tricky the crossing to Skelling Michael can be due to weather. How likely to occur is a last minute cancellation? And just how crowded will the Ring of Kerry be in late May? Would it be possible to get away from the crowds in this area? Also, please comment if you see a "doable" alternative that allows us to visit Skelling Michael and the Galway area all inclusive!

Dingle is only better than the ring of Kerry if the Ring of Kerry involves only the bus route.. To get the most from the Iveragh peninsula you need to get off piste. Had St Rick of Steves "discovered" Portmagee rather than Dingle then those two towns would have had a role reversal.

Beara the same physical size as the Dingle peninsula gets far less tourists so far fewer reviews but is to my mind the best of the main three south west peninsulas.

However as the wish is for the Skelligs then the Iveragh peninsula is key.

As to Galway it is a great touring base which has the infrastructure to cater to all tastes and matches Killarney in its ability to meet the needs of a multitude of tourists every month throughout the year.